Grace Kling

Our beloved Mother, Aunt, Grandmother, and friend Grace Joy Jensen Kling left this mortal life on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at the age of 95. As Grace had been “ready to go” for some time, it was a true blessing for her to be able to join her eternal companion, sister, and parents for a long-anticipated Thanksgiving reunion.
Grace was born at her Aunt Ethel’s home in Lewiston, Utah on February 11, 1929, to Minnie Ida Hanline Jensen and Frank Peter Jensen. When she was four days old, she received a letter from her namesake, her Aunt Georgia (Grace) Hammond, giving her the name of Grace Joy. Aunt Georgia never had children of her own and wanted Grace to have her name.
The first few years of Grace’s life were spent moving around Utah. Her dad worked for a state road crew and she and her mother often traveled with him, living in tents. She loved the outdoors and loved being with her father; they had a close and caring relationship. She always said she was, “Dad’s boy.” A fact she was very proud of. He taught her how to shoot and they enjoyed pheasant and rabbit hunting together.
When she was eight years old, she welcomed a baby sister, Karen Marie, who she loved to hold and help care for. Grace would push Marie around the house in her doll buggy and rock her to sleep. When their mother fell ill for many years, much of Marie’s care fell to Grace.
Grace attended Lincoln School in Brigham City where she enjoyed drawing pictures, especially of castles. She also loved spelling, history, and music. She learned to play the ukulele and performed for her class and at church meetings. She also took up the violin, but admitted to sneaking out on lessons and practice because she didn’t want to miss what her friends were doing. She loved to roller skate and was very good at it.
As soon as she was old enough to work, she tried a bit of everything. From ushering at a local theater, to working at an ice cream parlor, the Brigham Cannery, and later Hamilton Drug, she took pride in being able to buy her own clothes and schoolbooks and supplies.
She attended Box Elder High where she was a part of a close-knit group of friends. They loved to travel to Bear Lake to swim; they also swam out at the old cement plant. She was a member of the high school swim team, and very active in swing dancing, speech events, and planning and building scenery for several school plays. An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she was the president of her Gleaner class and in charge of fireside meetings, many of which were held at her parent’s home.
She met the love of her life, Floyd Kling, when she was a junior in high school. They began their relationship by exchanging dozens and dozens of letters while he was in the Army. After one year of courtship and one year of engagement, Grace and Floyd were married in the Box Elder County Courthouse on January 13, 1948. Floyd had been out flying his plane and was late for the ceremony—a fact which Grace later forgave him for. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Ogden LDS Temple on December 27, 1979. Floyd was a pilot in the military and frequently traveled. While he was away, Grace spent a great deal of time with her dad’s sister, Mayme, with whom she enjoyed a very close relationship.
Floyd and Grace made their home in Brigham City, where Grace began working at Box Elder County Bank in 1958 as a bookkeeper, then a teller, and later in the Notes and Escrow Department. She was elated when her sister Marie also went to work at the bank. She adored her bank friends; they were one of the great joys of her life. They shared craft nights and socializing, and a sisterhood of love and caring. She retired from the bank in 1998.
Grace loved working in her yard, which she and Floyd made into a showplace. She loved bowling and was a member of several leagues. She and Floyd traveled the Western United States extensively with friends, family, and on their own. They made many to trips to Yellowstone, and loved Mexico, Canada, Glacier National Park, Catalina Island, and Las Vegas. They took dancing lessons and spent many hours listening to popular and classical music.
After fourteen years of marriage, Grace expressed that she and Floyd were very happy and fortunate, and that they seldom went anywhere without one another. The only thing missing from their lives were children. In her journal she noted, “I have a wonderful husband and there is only one thing that could make our marriage more perfect. That is a child.” Thus, they were overjoyed to welcome a son, Scott, into their lives and, a few years later, their daughter, Holli.
Grace was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Floyd; her parents, Frank and Minnie; sister, Marie; special aunts, Georgia and Mayme; and her beloved cousin and friend, Sherm Hanline.
She is survived by her daughter, Holli, and son-in-law, Jim; son, Scott; as well as three grandchildren, Brittney, Jaxon, and Tayler; ten great-grandchildren; a niece, Lori; brother-in-law, Lynn; several great nieces and nephews; and her beloved dog, KaCee.
The family wishes to thank the staff and caretakers at The Gables of Brigham City, her Hospice nurse and dear friend, McKayla, and the many neighbors, friends, and ward members who loved and adored Grace and helped care for her during her life. Most especially Aurora, Donna, Jackie, and Pam—her dear friend and hairdresser who adopted KaCee.
A Graveside Service will be held Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Brigham City Cemetery, 300 East 300 South, Brigham City, Utah.
Services are entrusted to Myers Mortuary of Brigham City.